Circular saw



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C IRCULAR SAW Filed July 12. 1935 4 Shets-Sheet 5 .421 TDRNELYS.

March 5, 1935. w. J. MERRIGAN CIRCULAR SAW Filed July 12, 1933 4 SheetsSheet 4 JWENTUH.

WQZ EZZZZZIEHlT lTTLmNEYi Patented Mar. 5, 1935 i t I UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CIRCULAR SAW William J. Mcrrigan, Los Angeles, Calif., as-

signor to Berber-ts Machinery Company, Ltd., :mlsniAngeles, Calif., acorporation of Cali- Application July 12, 1933, Serial No. 690,086

8 Claims. (Cl. 143-174) This invention relates to improvements in cir-With the foregoing and other objects in view, oular saws. which will bemade manifest in the following de- An object of the invention is toprovide an imtailed description, and specifically pointed out in provedconstruction of circular saw wherein the appended claims, reference ishad to the there is a table, a rotatable spindle carrying theaccompanying drawings for an illustrative em-. 5

circular saw, and a novel, simple and advanbodiment of the invention,wherein: tageous means for effecting a raising and lower- Fig. 1 is atop plan view of the improved ciring of the saw with respect to thetable top. cular saw. Heretofore general practice has been to provideFig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same.

the bearing for the spindle with a single pivoted Fig. 3 is a view infront elevation of the saw 10 arm so that on moving the am about itspoint taken in the direction of the arrow 3 upon of pivot the saw isprojected through or lowered Figure 1. f through the table top. The useof a single arm Fig. 4 is a'viewin side elevation taken in the inconjunction with the raising and lowering direction of the arrow 4 uponFi ure 1- means is disadvantageous in that loose play of Fig. 5 is a topplan view of the base of the 15 the parts enables the bearing for thespindle to saw. the t ble top s own as havi bee revibrate and also tomove out of its intended plane moved and parts b g broken away a d S owof movement, with the result that not infrein horizontal section.quently the saw is moved suiiiciently so as to Fig. 6 is a sectionalview taken substantially engage the sides of the slot in the table top.In upon h l 119 11 Fi r 5- the present construction a double arm is used7 i5 8 detail in Vertical Seetifln taken p to pivotally mount thebearing. This prevents eli e -7 1113011 gure 1. distortion of the partsand the movement of the Fig. 8 is a vertical sectionv takensubstantially bearing and of the saw out of their intended 119 1 the l 1P Figure 7- planes of movement. The construction also en- Referring tohe accompanying drawing ables the use of a simple and advantageous meanswherein Similar reference characters designate for effecting a raisingand lowering of the saw Similar parts throughout, the p d S w 0011- andalso of a means for locking the saw in adsists of a base p ly r n l r inf m justed position, having side walls 10 and 11 and end walls 12 andAnother object of the invention is to provide These wells are flanged asindicated at 14, 0

a novel, simple and advantageous construction by which flanges the basey be statiomiily for mounting the table top on its base so a t fastenedto a floor or to a work bench. Side 10 P t he tilting of the table topwith respect has a recess formed in its top indicated at 15 in to thebase. which is movablea bearing 16 and the circular A further object ofthe invention is to pro- 'saw 18 is mounted thereon, the circular sawbe-' 35 vide a novel and simple fence construction which ing d p Withinthe beSe- The Spindle y is used in conjunction with the table top as acarry two or more sheaves 19 and 20 for a drive guide in feedingmaterial to be out to the saw. b which y be driven from y Suitable Inafence construction it is highly desirable that source of Dowel The realend Wall 13 has a the fence be capable of sliding freely and easily P Ofears 22 and 23 in Which is mounted a 40 across the table top to adjustthe width of map vot p TWO arms 25 and 26 are pivoted terial to be cutand on assuming the adjusted on the pivot pin 24 and these arms areconnected position to be able to tighten the fence in posito or may emade integral with bearing 6- tion, which will be perfectly parallel tothe plane Arm 25 carries a clevised branch 27 in which is of the saw.The improved fence is so designed rotatably mounted a nut 28. A crank 29extends 45 as to accomplish the above objects. through the forward end12 and has its rear end A further object of the invention is to providethreaded as indicated at 30 through the nut. a novel and simple guardconstruction for the This crank may rotate but it is held against lonsawwhich is so designed as to be automatically gitudinal movement by acollar 31. On rotating lifted by the material being fed to the saw andcrank 29 in one direction the clevised end 2'7 which is so arranged thatit is impossible to tilt will be forced rearwardly, causing arm 25 tothe guard with respect to the arm on which it is swing upwardly aboutpivot pin 24 as a center mounted so that the guard cannot engage the andthus effect a raising of the saw. Reverse saw at any normal height towhich the saw is rotation of crank 29 accomplishes a lowering ofprojected through the table. the saw. Arm 26 has an extension beyondbearing 16 on which is formed an ear 32. A bolt 33 extends through anarcuate slot 34 in side wall 10, through the ear and into a handle 35,which is internally threaded. The head of the bolt bears against theinside of side wall 10. It will be understood that a raising andlowering of the saw by rotating crank 29 is accomplished only when thehandle 35 is loosened. When the saw is in adjusted position, thethreaded crank extending into the nut 28 is sufllcient to hold the sawin this position. However, if it is desired to lock the saw in thisadjusted position, handle 35 may be tightened. This arm 26 also maycarry a pointer 36 arranged to traverse a graduated scale 37 adjacentthe side of slot 34 to serve as an indicator of the height to which thesaw has been projected through the table top.

It will be noted that in the above described construction that thebearing 16 is supported by means of two arms which pivot about a commonpivot point 24. These two arms prevent the bearing from wobbling or frommoving out of its intended plane of movement, with the result that thesaw 18 is always rotating in the same plane. Even during adjustmentinasmuch as bolt 33 is just loosened, the head of the bolt engaging theinside of wall 10 and ear 32 engaging the outside of wall 10, there isan effective bracing action on the part of the outer end of arm 26 tomaintain the bearing in its proper plane. Consequently with the improvedconstruction any tendency on the part of crank 29 to move bearing 16laterally is effectively prevented.

To effect a simple and advantageous mounting of the table top on thebase, the base is provided with two trunnions. These trunnions areindicated at 38 and 39 and are located on the end walls 12 and 13respectively. The bottoms of these trunnions are slotted as indicated at40. The table top 41 has formed on the under side thereof semi-circularbearings 42 which rest in the trunnions which are at the ends of theslots 40. Each bearing has a stud 43 and 44 secured rigidly thereto andprojecting down through their respective slots 40. Shoes 45 and 46 fltloosely about the studs and have their top surfaces formed to partiallyenter slots 40. These shoes have cammed lower surfaces complementary tocammed upper surfaces of handled earns 47 and 48 which are also loose onthe studs. On rotating the handled cams in the proper direction, thestuds will be loosened so that it is possible to tilt the table, thebearings 42 merely sliding on the ends of the trunnions 38 and 39. Whenthe table is in adjusted position, on tightening the handled cams thestuds will be tightened and hold the bearings 42 tight against the endsof the trunnions and thus frictionally hold the table top in adjustedposition. The shoes 45 and 46 will also be urged into engagement withthe bottoms of the trunnions and assist in frictionally holding thetable in adjusted position. The forward bearing may carry a pointer 49.arranged to traverse a scale 50 on the forwardmost trunnion 38. A slotis provided in the table top, preferably in a separate plate 51 insertedin the table. As a means for providing an adjustable fence on the table,the table top has a flange 52 formed on the under side of its forwardedge. The forward side of this flange is vertical, while the rear sideof the flange slopes downwardly and forwardly so that the flange istapered. The fence comprises a bar 53 which extends from the forwardside of the table top rearwardly. At the forward end of this bar thereis a downwardly extending extension 54 having laterally extending arms55 and 56. These arms carry adjustable studs 57 and 58, the rear ends ofwhich engage the forward side of flange 52. The extension 54 has anintegral shouldered portion 59 extending down adjacent flange 52. Aclamp 60 fits against the shoulder on portion 59 and has a portion 61fitting against the sloping side of flange 52. A stud 62 extendsdownwardly from the extension 54 and carries a cam 63 and a handled cam64. By rotating the handled cam 64 by means of its handle, stud 62 canbe loosened and in this condition the fence can be bodily caused toslide across the table to assume the desired position. On turning thehandled cam so as to tighten the stud, the fence is drawn downwardlyagainst the top surface of the table. The clamp 60 is urged upwardly andportion 61 is pushed tightly against the tapered surface of flange 52.This tends to draw the entire fence rearwardly until studs 5'1 and 58are forced tightly into engagement with the vertical side of flange 52,thus causing the body of the fence 53 to assume a position at exactlyright angles to the length of flange 52. In this position the fence willbe perfectly parallel to the plane of the saw. In the event theconstruction is such that flange 52 is not perfectly at right angles tothe plane of the saw, the studs 5'] and 56 can be so adjusted as tocompensate for this, so that regardless of what position the fence mayassume on the table, it will always be parallel to the plane of the saw.

At the ends of the front edge formed by the flange of the table thereare disposed laterally extending ears 52a (see Fig. 1). These earsproject laterally beyond the sides of the saw table and form extensionsextending the surface or forward edge of the table, which is engaged bythe studs 57 and 58 beyond the sides of the table. Their top surfacesare relieved (see Figs. 1 and 3), that is, they are disposed a shortdistance below the top or working surface of the table.

By virtue of the fact that the portions of the fence which engage theflange extend laterally beyond the sides of the fence so as to have agreater leverage in causing the fence to assume a position parallel tothe saw in any adjusted position, the presence of these ears forming anextension of the flange or forward edge of the table enables the fenceto be moved to the extreme side edge of the table. It will be readilyappreciated that if the ears were left off that the extreme positionsthat could be assumed by the fence would be spaced from the side edgesof the table because a stud 5'7 or 58 would run off of the flange. Thepresence of the ears enables the fence to be moved in its extremepositions to the side edges of the table.

The purpose of having the top surfaces of the ears relieved is to reducethe amount of grinding or machine work necessary to give the top surfaceof the table a finished working surface. It is only necessary to machineor grind the rectangular table surface without the ears. The relief ispreferably considerable for the reason that these tables are made bycasting and there is a tendency for the ears to warp upwardly as thecasting cools. Inasmuch as the sole function of the ears is to form anextension for the flange there is no necessity for machining the topsurfaces of the ears or in having them flush with the balance of thetable.

From the above described construction of fence, it will be appreciatedthat it is possible the table top without binding. Whenever the fence istightened up in adjusted position, the tightening involves a drawing ofthe fence rearwardly until the studs 57 and 58 are drawninto flrmengagement with the forward side of flange 52, thus assuring theoperator on each setting that his fence will be perfectly parallel tothe saw.

A guard is provided for the saw and to this end a bracket 65 is securedto the base, carrying an upstanding rod 66, to which is fastened ahorizontal rod 67. On this horizontal rod there is mounted a collar 68which is fastened in place by means of a set screw 69. The aboveconstruction constitutes a standard for an arm 70 which has a clevisedend 71 pivoting on horizontal rod 67 on both sides of collar 68. Thearrangement is such that set screw 69 is in the path of movement of thetop of the clevis and serves to limit upward swinging movement of, arm'70. This may be adjusted by merely loosening set screw 89 and rotatingthe collar about rod 67. The collar may also be caused to slide on rod67 to any adjusted position that will position arm 70 directly over thesaw. The forward end of arm '70 is also clevised as indicated at 72 andthe guard '73 is pivotally mounted therein on a bolt 74. This guard isin the form of an inverted channel having approximately the shape shownwherein the forward edges, indicated at '75, are inclined so that theguard will be automatically lifted when material is forced into the saw.The, guard carries a finger 76 which engages the top of clevis 72 andlimits swinging movement of the guard relatively to the arm 70 in onedirection. This is so limited that on lifting the forward end of theguard finger '76 will engage clevis- 72 before the rear end of the guardcan engage the saw at any normal height. After this engagement, furtherlifting of the guard merely causes arm 70 to swing about rod 6'? as acenter. Arm

. '70, as shown in Figure 2, is bent so that in the event that the guardis swung in a reverse direction about bolt 74, that the rear end of theguard will engage the arm before the forward end of the guard enters thepath of the saw. In this way the guard has its pivotal movement limitedin both directions so as to prevent any portion of the guard engagingthe saw. The construction of guard is such that it properly guards thesaw regardless of whether the table top is in horizontal position asshown,'or whether the table top is in an inclined or tilted position.

From the above described construction, it will be appreciated that animproved circular saw is provided having many advantageous improvementsin its design.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a woodworking machine having a table, a downwardly extendingflange disposed adjacent an edge of the table, said flange presenting adownwardly and outwardly inclined siu'face on its inner side, a fenceresting on said table having an overhanging portion extending outwardlybeyond said edge, a spanning member engaging said inclined surface andthe overhanging portion of the fence, and means secured to theoverhanging portion for tightening the spanning member upwardly againstsaid surface and simultarieously tightening the fence downwardly againstthe table.

2.. In a woodworking machine having a table, a downwardly extendingflange disposed adjacent an edge of the table, said flange presenting adownwardly and outwardly inclined surface on its inner side, a fenceresting on said table having an overhanging portion extending outwardlybeyond said edge, a spanning member engaging said inclined surface andthe overhanging portion of the fence, and means secured to theoverhanging portion for tightening the spanning member upwardly againstsaid surface and simultaneously tightening the fence downwardly againstthe table, said spanning member where it engages the inclined surfacepresenting a surface complementary thereto.

3. In a woodworking machine having a table, a downwardly extendingflange disposed adjacent an edge of the table, said flange presenting adownwardly and outwardly inclined surface on its inner side, a fenceresting on said table having an overhanging portion extending outwardlybeyond said edge, a spanning member engaging said inclined surface andthe overhanging portion of the fence, the engagement between thespanning member and the overhanging portion being such as to enable thespanning member to force the overhanging portion against said edge whenthe spanning member is tightened upwardly, and means secured to theoverhanging portion and extending downwardly through the spanning memberfor tightening the spanning member upwardly against said surface andsimultaneously zigbllitening the fence downwardly against the 4. In awoodworking machine having a table, a downwardly extending flangedisposed adjacent an edge of the table, said flange presenting adownwardly and outwardly inclined surface on its inner side, a fenceresting on said table having an overhanging portion extending outwardlybeyond said edge, a spanning member engaging said inclined surface andthe overhanging portion of the fence,- and means secured to theoverhanging portion for tightening the spanning member upwardly againstsaid surface and simultaneously tightening the fence downwardly againstthe table, said overhanging portion being engageable with said edge sothat tightening of the spanning member will simultaneously crowd saidoverhanga fence resting on the table having a portion overhanging saidedge, a spanning member engaging the flange and the overhanging portion,the engaging surfaces between the spanning member, the flange, and theoverhanging portion being so arranged as to crowd the overhangingportion against said edge on tightening the spanning member upwardly,and means connected to the fence for tightening the spanning memberupwardlyagainst said, flange.

6. In a woodworking machine, a table having a downwardly extendingflange adjacent an edge, a fence resting on the table having a portionoverhanging said edge, a spanning member engaging flange and theoverhanging portion, and means connected to the fence for tightening thespanning member upwardly against said flange, at least one of thesurfaces in engagement between the flange and spanning member beinginclined so that tightening of the spanning member will simultaneouslycrowd the overhanging portion of the fence against said edge.

7. Ina woodworking machine, a table having a downwardly extending flangeadjacent an edge, a fence resting on the table having a portionoverhanging said edge, a spanning member engaging the flange and theoverhanging portion, and means connected to the fence for tightening thespanning member upwardly against said flange, at least one of thesurfaces in engagement between the flange and spanning member beinginclined so that tightening of the spanning member will simultaneouslycrowd the overhanging portion of the fence against said edge, and ad-Justable studs on the overhanging portion engageable with said edge onopposite sides of the spanning member and tightening means.

8. In a woodworking machine having a table, a downwardly extendingflange disposed adjacent an edge of the table, a fence resting on thetable having an overhanging portion extending beyond said edge, aspanning member engaging the overhanging portion and the inner side ofsaid flange, tightening means connecting the overhanging portion and thespanning member which tightens the spanning member upwardly against theflange and also tightens the fence downwardly against the table top, atleast one of the surfaces of engagement between the flange and spanningmember being downwardly and outwardly inclined so that tightening of thetightening means is eflective to tighten the overhanging portionlaterally against said edge.

Wu. J. MERRIGAN.

